With the New Years Day sales on the horizon and another year in the bucket, antiques traders and collectors should find relief in knowing that the things we collect and cherish are… older. The continued existence of antiques is attributed to the people who cared for them, shielding their fine finishes through fire and rain, burst pipes and five year olds, house cleaners and those-five-year-olds-turned-fifteen-year-olds. So, if you made it through 2016 without an insurance claim, here’s to you. If you didn’t, here are some of our favorite offerings this week.

COPAKE AUCTION

Sale Date: January 1, 2016
Lot 29

Important Eighteenth Century Armchair
Boston, Mass. or Portsmouth, N.H., maple armchair. Circa 1730-1750. Pictured and described in American Furniture, edited by Luke Beckerdite, page 150, figure 22, described as “An Armchair, possibly made in Boston, may represent another potential prototype for Portsmouth Gaines chairs (fig. 22). This beautifully conceived and executed chair, with a tight, highly detailed crest, appears to be at first glance to be a Gaines chair. On sustained examination, its turnings and carving differ substantially. The toes are applied, and the arms do not have the exaggerated volutes seen in Gaines chairs. Furthermore the carving of the crest does not seem to relate to leafage executed by John Gaines III or by his possible carving subcontractor, Joseph Davis of Portsmouth.” Provenance from the Richard Kyllo Collection, N.J.
Estimate: $75/100,000

ARONSON OF AMSTERDAM

Delft, Blue And White Large Ovoid Jug
Attributed to De Porceleyne Schotel (The Porcelain Dish) Factory 1630-1650. Often depicted in the paintings of Jan Steen, as seen in “Het Oestereetstertje.”
Price Upon Request

THOS. CORNELL GALLERIES, LTD.

Sale Date: January 1, 2016
Lot 36
Richard Drabble
“River Thames,” framed oil on canvas. Provenance from the William Smith Galleries. 32 by 46 inches.
Estimate: $20/30,000

JEFFREY TILLOU ANTIQUES

Banner Sheet Copper Weathervane In The Form Of A Comet
Having a spire finial and a large sphere below the banner. All mounted on the original wrought iron post. American, mid-Nineteenth Century. Retains some of the original yellow sizing and some areas of gilt. Sheet copper and wrought iron.
Price Upon Request

SCHMIDT’S ANTIQUES INC.

Sale Date: January 1, 2016
Lot 34
George II Necessaire
A mid-Eighteenth Century English gold and hardstone necessaire. Rectangular case with a pyramidal lid fitted with a spyglass, surmounted by a brown agate cased watch by David Hubert of London, having a white enamel dial; a square-cut diamond thumbpiece at the front depresses to reveal an interior fitted with three glass scent bottles, each having a gold threaded cap and interior stopper, as well as an ivory and agate tablet, pencil, and other gold fittings, and on the reverse, a compass at the center. Set with panels of gray agate with white and fawn markings, the whole applied with gold borders chased with scrolls and flower heads, and the sides with gold cage work decorated with putti and birds among rococo scrolls, and raised on four circular gray agate feet. fusee movement, with engraved plates, signed “D. Hubert, London” along with serial number 1970.
Estimate: $10/20,000

STEPHEN & CAROL HUBER

Mary Ann Post (1813-1883)
Miss Cornwall’s School, Glastonbury, Conn., 1827 Mary Ann Post, at age 14 in 1827, worked this striking Family Register sampler at Miss Cornwall’s school in Glastonbury, Connecticut. She recorded the marriage of her parents and the births of their children. Her parents and brother’s death dates were added later. Exhibited in With Needle & Brush, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Conn. Silk on linen; 18” x 22” sight.
Price Upon Request

NADEAU’S

Sale Date: January 1, 2016
Lot 497
Nineteenth Century Italian Micromosaic plaque
Depicting the view of Rome with St. Peters in background and the Castello Sant’ Angelo ad Ponte Sant’Angelo, having figures on shore and in a boat in the foreground, possibly Biagio Barzotti or Tiber Vatican Workshop. Plaque size 8 1/2 by 14 inches.
Estimate: $10/20,000

CARSWELL RUSH BERLIN, INC.

Rare and Important Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tambour Secretary-Bookcase
Attributed to John Aitken (active c.1790-1814), Philadelphia, circa 1797. This is the only known mate to the secretary made by Aitken for George Washington, while he was President and which is now in Mount Vernon.
Price Upon Request

KAMINSKI AUCTIONS

Sale Date: January 1, 2016
Lot 7302A

Pedro Friedeberg (Mexican, 1937-)
Sculptural hand foot chair, mahogany in original finish, having three feet on base, signed by the artist under one foot, 18 by 22 by 33 inches. Provenance: purchased from Mexico by the consignor, thence from a Brookline, Mass. estate.
Estimate: $7,5/12,500

QUESTROYAL FINE ART

Fairfield Porter (1907–1975)
“The Black Tree,” 1968, oil on board, 19 15/16 by 18 inches. Signed and dated lower center.
Price Upon Request